Bowling has been a favorite pastime for over hundreds of years. Now students at Oxford High School have the chance to compete in this life long sport.
The Bowling Club started tryouts in November and currently has 13 members between its Varsity and JV teams.
The club represents the school in competitions but is not sanctioned as a high school sport ? yet.
The OHS club is a part of the Northern Lakes Division of High School Bowling, which includes schools from Waterford, Walled Lake and Clarkston.
Coached by J.R. Lafnear, an avid bowler all his life, and assistant coaches Walt Wheeler and Steve Burgess, the club is looking to expand its team to the female other species.
‘We definitely need more girls,? Lafnear said.
For bowling to become a high school sanctioned sport, Lafnear said there needs to be a Varsity and JV girls team with a minimum of five girls on each team.
The club practices three times a week for a couple hours at Collier Lanes and competes on Saturdays and Sundays. They made good progress in their competition on Dec. 10.
JV members Brandon Burgess and Ben Griggs had a high scores in the 200’s along with ‘outstanding performances? by Varsity members Kevin and Scott Compau and A.J. McLarity.
Although the Varsity team stands at 1-1 and the JV team at 0-2, Lafnear said their strength is also their weakness.
‘Our strength right now is simply that we have young bowlers,? he said. ‘We only have two seniors, so next year we’ll have a year’s experience in the league.?
Lafnear said their weakness is also that they’re ‘young and have not been in the league before.?
The fee to join the Bowling Club is $120 and covers shoes rental, 10 weeks of bowling in competitions and practices and league events. Lafnear credits Collier Lanes for the great support and keeping the cost low.
Lafnear believes bowling is important for kids to learn because it’s a life long sport, like golf, that they can compete in as adults.
‘The other part of it is that it’s Friday and Saturday nights when kids get in the most amount of trouble,? he said. ‘The bowling center’s open so that they have somewhere to go and it’s constructive.?
There is still time left to join the club. If interested, please call Lafnear at (313) 350-4691 or stop by Collier Lanes to get information about joining.
Check out the bowling club’s next competition January 8 at Noon at 300 Bowl in Waterford.